Twistable Actuator for Child-Resistant Pharmaceutical Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pharmaceutical packaging that requires a squeezing motion to access medication can be difficult for users with arthritis or limited mobility, as it necessitates coordinated force application and wide spacing of gripping points, making it challenging for them to access medication while maintaining child resistance.
Innovation Solution
A twistable actuator is integrated into the packaging, allowing users to rotate and release a card carrying medication from a housing, which is more accessible for individuals with limited mobility, while maintaining child-resistant properties by using a pin or asymmetrical contact member to disengage the card from the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a squeezing motion is required to release the card from the housing, then child resistance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for users with arthritis or limited mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameter from linear squeezing motion to rotational twisting motion. The actuator rotates between approximately 90 to 180 degrees to disengage the card, which is a more natural motion for users with limited finger mobility while still providing sufficient mechanical advantage to overcome the retention forces and maintain child resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct squeezing mechanism with a rotational actuation system that uses a ratchet and pawl mechanism. This mechanical substitution allows the user to apply torque through rotation rather than requiring direct compressive force, making the operation easier for users with arthritis while maintaining the security of the original design.
2Reliability
If opposing portions of the housing are spaced widely apart to provide child resistance, then child resistance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in grasping and coordinating force application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate gripping points into a single integrated actuator component. The actuator includes a body and a rotatable element that work together as one unified component, eliminating the need for users to coordinate force application across multiple spaced-apart points while maintaining the security provided by the original wide spacing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator serves as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the card retention system. Instead of directly manipulating spaced-apart housing portions, the user interacts with the actuator, which then translates this single-point interaction into the necessary mechanical action to disengage the card, simplifying the operation while preserving child resistance.
3Ease of operation
If a twistable actuator is used to release the card, then ease of operation is improved for users with limited mobility, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a ratchet and pawl mechanism that allows the actuator to rotate in one direction (disengagement) while preventing reverse rotation (re-engagement). This dynamic mechanical feature enables the improved ease of operation through simple rotational motion while automatically maintaining the secure locked position, adding minimal complexity compared to the original design.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet mechanism provides self-locking functionality, where the actuator automatically maintains its disengaged position without requiring additional user action. Once the user rotates the actuator to disengage the card, the ratchet mechanism self-service locks in this position, preventing accidental re-engagement and eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms or additional user steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A pharmaceutical package and an associated method are provided that is child resistant, but that may be readily accessible for users having arthritis or otherwise having limited mobility in their fingers. The pharmaceutical package includes a housing and a card carrying medication that is slidably disposed at least partially within the housing such that the at least one medication is positioned within the housing. The pharmaceutical package also includes an engagement member configured to engage the card in an instance in which the card is disposed within the housing. For example, the card may define an opening and the engagement member may be configured to extend into the opening defined by the card when the card is in the housing. The pharmaceutical package also includes a twistable actuator configured to disengage the card and the engagement member in response to rotation of the twistable actuator relative to the housing.